LEWIS, Robert James
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 March 1915, Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dublin, Ireland, 24 October 1873 |
| Home Town: | Darwin, Darwin, Northern Territory |
| Schooling: | Airdrie Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Sheriff/Chief clerk |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 18 June 1916, aged 42 years |
| Cemetery: |
La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Wallonie, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Darwin Northern Territory Soldiers Roll of Honour |
Boer War Service
| 1 Jan 1901: | Involvement Unspecified British Units |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| 24 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, Darwin, Northern Territory | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 25th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 29 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Brisbane | |
| 4 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 25th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 18 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 25th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 25 Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1916-06-18 |
Help us honour Robert James Lewis's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adine May Reedman
Captain Robert James Lewis was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 14th of October 1873. His four brothers and himself, went on to serve in British Regiments; Robert served 20 years in the 13th Hussars. During this time, he was awarded with both Queen’s and King’s Medals with six clasps, for his service in the Boer War in South Africa. He received each clasp for: Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Orange Free States, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1903.
At the age of 35 years old (approximately 1908), Lewis arrived in Australia. He moved to Darwin, Northern Territory, and joined the NT Public Service, where he occupied the roles of ‘Captain’ of the Cable Guard, and ‘Sheriff’ to the hospital. In 1915, he recruited and was the officer to lead the first contingent to leave the Northern Territory. Four days prior to his departure, he attended a smoke social event, which farewelled the first official NT contingent volunteers, before departing for the Front in Europe. On the 26th of April 1915, they sailed onboard the SS Changsha.
During the course of World War One, Captain Lewis served in Gallipoli, France and Belgium- where he was shot through the head on the morning of the 18th of June 1916. Lewis’ final rank held, being ‘Captain’. He was buried at La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, inscribed in his head stone reads, “He was a very brave and gallant gentleman”. He left behind his wife, Gertrude Lewis and infant daughter, whom he never had the opportunity to meet, as she was born after he had departed for the war. After his passing, Gertrude remained in Darwin and obtained the position as ‘manageress’ of the Victoria Hotel, and left Darwin in 1919.
Bibliography:
Cwgc.org. (n.d.). Casualty. [online] Available at: https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/444782/LEWIS,%20ROBERT%20JAMES [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
Dtc.nt.gov.au. (2017). Smoke socials, meat works and rebellion: Darwin 1914 to 1919 - Department of Tourism and Culture. [online] Available at: https://dtc.nt.gov.au/arts-and-museums/northern-territory-archives-service/stories-from-the-archives/darwin-1914-1919 [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
Memorial, T. (n.d.). Captain Robert James Lewis. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10679149/ [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
Territorystories.nt.gov.au. (2015). Robert Lewis. [online] Available at: http://www.territorystories.nt.gov.au/jspui/handle/10070/214562 [Accessed 6 Jan. 2018].
Contributed by Adine May Reedman as part of the 2018 Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Anzac Spirit Study Tour.
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